Adds to existing law to provide for nurses to delegate tasks to non-nurses under certain conditions.
Summary
House Bill 327 amends Idaho nursing law to expressly allow a licensed nurse, when appropriately educated, trained, and experienced, to delegate certain tasks to a non-nurse. The delegated work must be limited to tasks that do not require independent clinical judgment, and the nurse must maintain proper supervision and be satisfied that the person is qualified and adequately trained. The bill also defines these tasks as duties for which the individual has received formal training and certification from a national organization acceptable to the board.
The bill creates a new section in Chapter 14, Title 54 of the Idaho Code governing nursing delegation. It is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, under an emergency clause. In practical terms, the measure clarifies the scope of permissible delegation in nursing practice and gives the Board of Nursing a statutory framework for determining which certified, trained non-nurses may perform delegated tasks.
Impact
The bill adds Section 54-1421 to Idaho Code and directly affects the regulation of nursing practice by authorizing delegation to non-nurses under specified conditions. It does not broadly change licensure requirements, but it does establish a legal standard for supervision, training, and certification when nurses assign tasks to others. The measure is likely to affect hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, home health providers, and other healthcare employers that use support staff in patient care settings, as well as the Idaho Board of Nursing in interpreting and enforcing delegation rules.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong bipartisan support and no recorded opposition: the bill passed the House 70-0 and the Senate 35-0. With no committee transcript available, the record suggests the measure was viewed as a practical clarification of nursing delegation authority rather than a controversial policy change. The unanimous votes indicate broad agreement that the bill would help define safe delegation boundaries while supporting workforce flexibility in healthcare settings.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available materials. Based on the text, any potential concerns would likely center on patient safety, the adequacy of training and certification for non-nurses, and how much discretion nurses and the Board of Nursing should have in determining who may receive delegated tasks. However, the unanimous floor votes suggest those issues did not generate visible disagreement in the legislative process.